St. Louis, Missouri

Here in St. Louis, one of the first things that’s often boasted about is how much you can do without reaching into your wallet. While other cities, big and small, make you cough up a solid chunk of cash to enjoy their finer amenities, places like the St. Louis Art Museum, St. Louis Zoo, Missouri History Museum, St. Louis Science Center, and more are all available for free, not to mention the abundance of public parks, such as the famous Forest Park, all available within city limits. St. Louis is also known as a “20-minute city” for how convenient it is to get around, with all of these amenities just a short drive or a Metrolink trip away.

While those who live here have an insane amount of pride for their hometown, St. Louis is unfortunately dinged for crime. and its rates are high, but as with all cities it varies so much by where you are and locals will cry out that common sense solves most ills. Population growth has been in decline over the decades but in the last few years the word seems to be out that St. Louis is a gem and the numbers began to rise a bit each year.

St Louis has a lot of qualities of other midwestern cities. Early industrial wealth was used to build cultural institutions: symphony, ballet, museums, etc. that surprises people who expected the cities to be lacking in performing arts and civic opportunities. Like some other midwestern cities with decent economies, plenty of people stay and that gives it an insular feel. There are incredible strengths here for families, posh and working-class neighborhoods, and great work/life balance respected by local employers. Much of the city energy is around the city's outer ring/suburban family life, mixed with social/cultural life and some younger professionals making it work downtown.

If you want to see what's happening in St. Louis check out the calendar of events.

St. Louis has a lot more corporate headquarters than you’d think. The city has a big, well-to-do professional class that benefits from the fact that things are still designed and manufactured here. While the emerging tech and service sector is just getting started you can feel how businesses and employees are staying or moving here to take advantage of the low cost of living and incredible infrastructure. Overall, St. Louis has a big edge over other midwest cities for the diversity of the economy.

Major Industries include:

-Manufacturing: St. Louis has a strong legacy in manufacturing, including from automotive and aerospace components to chemicals and electronics.
-Healthcare and Biotechnology: The city is a major center for healthcare services and medical research. It hosts numerous hospitals, research institutions, and biotech firms.
-Financial Services: Financial services play a significant role in St. Louis’s economy. The city is home to several national and regional banks, investment firms, and insurance companies.
-Aerospace and Defense: St. Louis has long been associated with aerospace and defense, with prominent employers in aircraft manufacturing and defense contracting.
-Transportation and Logistics: The city’s strategic location along the Mississippi River and as a rail and highway hub makes it a crucial point for the movement of goods.
-Education and Research: The city boasts numerous higher education institutions and research centers that contribute to its intellectual capital and workforce development.
-Technology and Startups: In recent years, St. Louis has been fostering a burgeoning tech and startup ecosystem, supported by various incubators and innovation hubs.

Major Employers include:

-Boeing Defense, Space & Security: A significant player in aerospace and defense manufacturing, employing thousands in the region.
-BJC HealthCare: One of the largest nonprofit healthcare organizations in the U.S., BJC operates several hospitals and healthcare facilities in St. Louis.
Washington University in St. Louis: A premier academic and research institution that employs a substantial number of staff and faculty.
-SSM Health: Another leading healthcare provider with hospitals and clinics throughout the city.
-Centene Corporation: A multinational health insurance company headquartered in St. Louis, one of the major corporate employers.
-Emerson Electric Co.: A Fortune 500 company that produces industrial and consumer products and engineering services.
-Edward Jones: A financial services firm with a strong presence in wealth management and financial advising.
-Anheuser-Busch: The iconic brewery and its parent company, AB InBev, maintain a significant presence in the city.
-Nestlé Purina PetCare: A leading manufacturer of pet products headquartered in St. Louis.

Workforce Development: There are ongoing efforts to enhance education and training programs to ensure that residents have the skills needed for emerging job markets.
Entrepreneurship: St. Louis is increasingly recognized for its startup ecosystem, particularly in tech and biosciences. Organizations like Cortex Innovation Community provide support for new ventures.